Tisza Party plans to launch healthcare reforms within 100 days – but challenges go beyond the short term

The Tisza Party says it would begin systemic changes in healthcare within its first 100 days, but professional organisations warn that the most serious problems cannot be resolved in the short term.

According to Népszava, detailed legislative proposals and policy packages have already been developed by expert groups in recent months, meaning that tangible steps could be taken early on.

The short-term plans include establishing an independent Ministry of Health, introducing data-driven management, and making patient pathways more transparent. The aim is to create a system in which institutional performance is clearly measurable and patients can track when and where they will receive care.

Quality control would be strengthened by an independent authority, modelled on the UK’s Care Quality Commission, which would conduct on-site inspections and publish evaluations identifying where care meets standards and where serious shortcomings remain.

The Hungarian Medical Chamber argues, however, that structural reforms alone will not be enough.

“A genuine systemic transformation in healthcare cannot be reduced to organisational changes or financial reforms. There is a need to restore professional autonomy, strengthen ethical standards, and create an environment where criticism leads to dialogue rather than retaliation […] and where the patient’s interest takes precedence over all other considerations.”

According to the Chamber, the past years have seen not only the deepening of structural problems, but also serious damage to professional and ethical foundations.

They say that political loyalty has, in many cases, overridden professional considerations, undermining trust in the system and increasing the vulnerability of healthcare workers. As a result, they stress that reform must go beyond structural change and include restoring accountability and professional independence.

Reform is meaningless without staff

Another major challenge is the shortage of healthcare workers — a point on which professional organizations broadly agree. The Magyar Egészségügyi Szakdolgozói Kamara estimates that tens of thousands of healthcare professionals are missing from the system, while the existing workforce is overburdened and aging rapidly.

As reported by Népszava, industry representatives consistently warn about mounting pressures within the sector. Adrianna Soós, head of the Independent Healthcare Trade Union, said one of the most pressing issues is overwork combined with low pay.

In her view, meaningful change will not come from one-off pay rises, but from a predictable career path that makes it worthwhile for staff to remain in the profession long term.

Zoltán Balogh, president of the Hungarian Chamber of Healthcare Professionals, shares this view, arguing that the sector cannot simply be “patched up” but must be rebuilt on new foundations.

He previously highlighted that the average age of healthcare workers already exceeds 47, with more than 20,000 staff aged over 50. At the same time, around 14,000 nurses are currently missing from adult care, a gap likely to worsen in the coming years.

According to the Chamber, at least 40,000 additional healthcare professionals would be needed to ensure the system can operate safely.

Concerns about hospital conditions further illustrate the strain on the system. Previous reporting has shown that overcrowding and staff shortages can lead to patients being treated in corridors or waiting extended periods for care.

Long-term plans for healthcare reform

Beyond the measures that could be introduced quickly, the real weight of the Tisza Party’s programme lies in its longer-term goals, which would require significant funding and time:

• By 2027, waiting lists would be reduced to a maximum of six months for inpatient care and two months for outpatient services
• By 2030, healthcare spending would reach 7% of GDP, with at least HUF 500 billion in additional funding each year
• By 2035, life expectancy would be increased to 80 years, supported by stronger prevention and healthier lifestyle initiatives
• Emergency services would be improved so that ambulances arrive within 15 minutes nationwide, alongside a renewal of the vehicle fleet

Reforms would also include restructuring the hospital system. The plan envisions developing well-equipped regional centres while maintaining and strengthening smaller hospitals. More complex procedures would be concentrated in these centres, while routine care would remain available locally.

These proposals point towards a more modern and better-funded healthcare system. However, professional organisations stress that the central question remains unchanged: whether there will be enough staff to operate it — and whether, beyond structural reforms, professional autonomy and trust within the system can be restored.

The broader economic context may also affect these plans. As we previously reported, the outgoing Orbán government extended key price caps indefinitely, leaving major decisions to the next administration.

Cover photo: depositphotos.com